1From Thomas Jefferson to John Mathews, 2 September 1780 (Jefferson Papers)
I have been honoured with your Letters of the 13 and 19 ult . No person can feel more poignantly than I do for the distresses of our army to the north nor the idea of blasting well grounded hopes of decisive operations there for want of those supplies which constitute the force of war. That something brilliant there shou’d take place is the more necessary to keep up the spirits of our people...